Category: middle-grade fiction

If you have a list of important middle grade reads, Ghost Boys, by Jewell Parker Rhodes, absolutely must be on that list. It isn't a fun read, but like The Hate U Give, I think it is one that should be read by everyone. This is a book which at its heart wants the world... Continue Reading →

Imagine a futuristic world where there is life on the moon and where cyborg and android life are reality. In the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, that is the world that we enter. Once you've got that part understood, add in characters loosely related to well known fairy tale characters. Put it all together and... Continue Reading →

I don't often read books that are mainly meant for young boys, but thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange, I was able to read Stu Truly by Dan Richards, a book that just came out this month. It is a coming of age story about a young boy and also a comical look at how... Continue Reading →

I love being a part of the Kid Lit Exchange because I wind up finding out about and reading books that I might never have found on my own. Even more likely, without the KLE, I would find a book, put it on my never ending TBR list, and might never get to it. But... Continue Reading →

There are times when you can be reading a book and from the first few pages you know that it is going to be great. This was one of those books. I have a feeling that it will resonate with kids for a long time. Goodreads Synopsis Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn't... Continue Reading →

Every summer I get a weekly text from AudioBooks Sync. The SYNC program is a free summer audiobook program for teens 13+ that pairs two books weekly and allows people to download them for as long as needed to listen. I've found some really interesting reads over the years and have been intrigued how they... Continue Reading →

I recently discovered a really wonderful podcast called "Lifelines: Books that Bridge the Divide." Hosts Ann Braden and Saadia Faruqi aim to "share conversations with librarians, educators, and readers about the children’s books that can be bridges across our cultural divides…the books that can open minds and the books that can be the lifeline a... Continue Reading →

I think that it is only appropriate that I finished this book a few days after writing about picture books that encourage children to embrace their individuality. The Way to Bea, by Kat Yeh, is a really wonderful book for middle graders that handles the same type of concept, but for older kids experiencing completely... Continue Reading →

Imagine that you are a part of a very tight knit community and that the only tie that you have to your father, who died before you were born, is a small piece of land and a love of architecture. You have planned to build a tiny house on your land during the summer only... Continue Reading →